A Byers market benefits Jimtown

August 19, 2006|SCOTT DAVIDSON Tribune Staff Writer

ELKHART -- Jimtown may have had a question mark at quarterback prior to Friday night. That's not the case anymore thanks to Tony Byers. Byers put an exclamation point on the starting job by calmly directing a second-half rally as the Class 2-A No. 1 Jimmies toppled rival Class 3-A No. 4 NorthWood 20-14 in a state headliner in front of a standing-room only crowd at Knepp Field. The game, pitting a pair of defending state champions, lived up to its billing as neither team backed down in the sauna-like conditions. Jimtown stopped the Panthers on a 4th-and-5 from the Jimmie 11 with 37 seconds to play to preserve the thrilling win. NorthWood tailback Kent Biller, who had a brilliant game with 171 yards rushing, slipped for a four-yard loss on a pitch play to end the Panthers' final drive. "We're very fortunate to win,'' said Jimtown coach Bill Sharpe. "We played well offensively in the second half. "We couldn't stop them. Our defense has a long way to go, but credit them. Biller was great. We did something different on defense on their last drive (stunting off the end).'' Byers, one of three Jimtown quarterback candidates in the preseason, threw a third-quarter touchdown pass and ran for two scores in the final period to lift the hosts to the victory. The Jimmie junior, who replaces graduated John Soli, scored on a three-yard keeper with 3:24 to play to put his team up 18-14. Caleb Pettis ran for the two-point conversion to make it 20-14. The Jimtown offense played keepaway the final half with a punishing ground game led by Ryan Konrath. NorthWood, which took a 14-6 lead on a 65-yard touchdown jaunt by Biller midway through the third quarter, simply could not stop the Jimmies. Jimtown converted three key fourth down plays, capped by a 28-yard scamper by Byers on a fourth and five to cut the lead to 14-12 with 11:50 to play. Panther coach Rich Dodson was a man of few words. "You have to stop people,'' said Dodson, who saw his defense allow 267 yards rushing. "That's about it. We had too many mistakes and penalties. "Biller played well. He was hot tonight and we went to him. I think we have two good tailbacks in him and Trevaris Green.'' NorthWood played shorthanded. The Panthers were missing running back Kent Schaffer, who is out four to six weeks with a fractured wrist. NorthWood was also missing three players expected to be regulars. The trio will miss the first three games due to a violation of the school's athletic code. The Panthers had the ball for only 5:56 in the final half. NorthWood led 7-0 at halftime thanks to a 14-play, 80-yard drive on the first possession of the contest. Sophomore quarterback Skyler Titus bulled in from a yard out to make it 7-0. NorthWood missed a golden chance to increase its lead in the second period. After stopping the Jimmies on downs at the NorthWood eight, the Panthers drove into Jimtown territory, only to have two key penalties force them to punt. Jimtown got back in the game quickly in the final half. The Jimmies, sparked by Konrath's bulldozing runs, went 65 yards on the first possession of the third quarter, capped by a perfect 31-yard scoring strike from Byers to Pettis to make it 7-6. Konrath rambled for 114 punishing yards on 18 carries to lead Jimtown. Tyler Spurgeon added 63 yards on 11 rushes. NorthWood plays at Culver Military and Jimtown hosts Glenn next Friday. JIMTOWN 20, NORTHWOOD 14At Knepp Field NorthWood 7 0 8 0 -- 14 Jimtown 0 0 6 14 -- 20 N -- Skyler Titus 1 run (Brandon Williams kick) J -- Caleb Pettis 31 pass from Tony Byers (kick failed) N -- Kent Biller 65 run (Williams kick) J -- Byers 28 run (run failed) J -- Byers 3 run (Pettis run) N'Wood Jimtown First downs 15 13 Yards rushing 241 267 Yards passing 54 46 Passing 6-12-0 5-6-0 Punting 2-29 1-24 Fumbles lost 1 1 Yards penalized 45 30 Officials: Bob Kania, Bill Sorukas, Al DeRue, John Coppens, Tim Stutsman.